#SIFF2020#
2020/08/02 Us 2.5/5
I was very much looking forward to this movie. I think the movie showcases good shots and a spooky vibe, and I feel Peele's subtle homage to previous horror films even more. However, the story itself is weak and a little confusing.
The biggest concern for these main characters, as well as the audience, is why these replicants (called The Tethered in the film) are attacking the human world. So we thought about the answers to these questions almost from the start, and when those answers were actually delivered, it was very unsatisfactory.
The logic (or lack thereof) of The Tethered's existence and motives is so confusing that it ultimately undermines the film's final conclusion because it leaves so many holes in the story that it needs to be answered.
If Peele removed the explanatory elements about Tethered's existence, function, etc., it would have been a better story in my opinion. It could be a survival horror film and leave more of an opportunity for viewers to imagine and think about the how and why, which might even leave Peele with some good symbolism etc. Not to mention that it would make the final conclusion all the more shocking, convincing and thought-provoking, and the audience will be talking about it in all the best ways for a long time. Instead, we're left with many drawing holes in the explanation.
All in all, as an independent film, it's really good, but I have my doubts about its authenticity.
Also, I really don't think it can or shouldn't be compared to Get Out as they are two completely different movies, both in genre and overall style. "Us" is a horror movie, and "Get Out" is a social thriller. So even though they are from the same director, it's not fair to have them compete with each other or put them in the same environment. I feel like anyone who wants to do this is going to end up disappointed with this movie no matter what.
I can understand the goals and metaphors Peele is trying to achieve, but he is too flat.
In text form at the beginning of the film, is "Thousands of tunnels in the world. Who knows what tunnels are in them". This is the only interpretation of the movie, an interpretation of a cloned civilization in which 6 million Tethereds live in underground tunnels. When the movie ends and it's pieced together like this, it makes for a silly and absurd overarching plot.
Now, these Tethereds do refer to themselves as shadows, as they are sometimes forced to mimic the activities of the cloned. Oddly enough, that selective and inconsistent way in the past hurts several scenes in the movie. But the rest of the movie is just about 6 million Tethered escaping from the tunnel and killing their prototypes. Once they did, they held hands and formed a line across the United States. Isn't this more of a performance art than a movie?
The only things that can be acknowledged are the brilliant acting, the right music and the dark humor. However, none of this will solve the horrific plot that ends with a pointless twist. Like the pigmented cherry on top of the chocolate cake, sweet and tasteless.
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